They’re all my children… every score I’ve done.
Ennio Morricone
One of cinema’s most iconic composers Ennio Morricone passed-away on July 6th aged 91.
From a personal point of view, Morricone’s work on Once Upon a Time in America, The Thing, Once Upon a Time in the West and Cinema Paradiso are highlights of his illustrious career.
One film I aim to watch in August is Roland Joffé’s The Mission and I look forward to discovering more of Morricone’s work in the coming years.
With a staggering 520 credits to his name to say the Italian is a legend is an understatement.
My recommendations this month are films I have watched on subscription-based streaming sites and rental streaming for under £5.
My top three films for July are:
Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
Rating 9/10
Guy & Rosemary move into an apartment in the Upper West Side of New York with plans of starting a family. Rosemary falls pregnant and in turn starts to become suspicious of the imposing, elderly next-door neighbours.
Mia Farrow, who is in almost every shot, turns in an exceptional performance as Rosemary.
3 months into shooting, Frank Sinatra – Farrow’s husband at the time – wanted her to drop out of filming to star along-side him in The Detective. After refusing, Sinatra’s lawyer interrupted a scene to serve her with divorce papers.
Polanski stated in an interview that he had a visualisation of every character, as he was writing the screenplay, and handed drawings to the casting director. This process worked wonders as every supporting actor in the film made their mark. Ruth Gordon (who picked up an Oscar for her role) and Sidney Blackmer are brilliant as the intrusive Castevet’s.
The suspense and mystery built throughout is perfectly crafted and easily one of the best psychological horror films I have watched.
You can rent Rosemary’s Baby on Prime Video, YouTube and Google Play.
Local Hero (1983)
Rating 8.5/10
Mac is assigned the task by his Texan employer Knox Oil & Gas to strike a buy-out deal with the seaside villagers at Furness Bay in Scotland.
The films calming pace, offbeat humour, eye-popping location shots and Mark Knopfler’s score ticked all the boxes for me.
Peter Riegert’s (Mac) character development, Peter Capaldi’s (Oldsen) infatuation with a marine biologist and everything Burt Lancaster (Happer) does on screen are all highlights.
For many years I would browse the Film4 section of Fopp and overlook Bill Forsyth’s Scottish comedy-drama, now I am recommending it to anyone that will listen.
You can rent Local Hero on Prime Video, BFI Player and iTunes.
Corpus Christi (2019)
Rating 8.5/10
Upon his release from a young offender’s institute, Daniel makes his way to a small town to take up work at a Polish sawmill. Seeking salvation in the local church he leads the locals to believe he is a priest.
Writer Mateusz Pacewicz first heard of Polish priest impersonators in High School and after further research discovered there were regular cases across the country. After publishing a non-fiction book, he crafted together a screenplay over 5 years as he had always envisioned this social phenomenon to be made into a film.
I found myself thoroughly invested in the story and was blown away by Bartosz Bielenia’s performance as the conflicted Daniel. Primarily from a Polish theatre background and known to play creepy supporting characters, Bielenia is a truly tremendous lead with fantastic screen presence.
The film well and truly earned its nomination for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars this year.
You can watch Corpus Christi on Now TV
Honourable mentions:
Sonatine (1993) Rating 8.5/10
This is the first Takeshi Kitano film I have watched and as a result, I will be delving deeper into the Japanese auteur’s filmography. Sonatine is an impeccably cool and darkly funny 90s Yakuza film that had me hooked from the beginning with its interesting characters and unpredictability. Joe Hisaishi’s chilled out electronic score matches the mood perfectly.
You can watch Sonatine on the BFI Player on Prime Video Channels.
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) Rating 9/10
Revisited the Coen Brothers Deep South adventure for the first time in years and enjoyed it thoroughly. The utterly sublime bluegrass soundtrack gives this film so much life along with the fun performances from the lead trio.
You can watch O Brother, Where Art Thou? on Netflix and Now TV.
Thunder Road (2018) Rating 8.5/10
Jim Cummings directs and stars in this super-strong indie dark comedy. Adapted from the 2016 short film of the same name, we follow Texan police officer Jim Arnaud in his day to day following the death of his Mother. Cummings owns the role of a father desperately trying to earn the affection of his young daughter as he is going through a divorce. A mainstream breakthrough is surely on the horizon for Cummings.
You can watch Thunder Road on Netflix.
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) Rating 8.5/10
Rest in Peace Ennio Morricone, a true icon.
You can watch Once Upon a Time in the West on Now TV
The Nightingale (2018) Rating 8/10
Jennifer Kent’s ferociously violent and brutal revenge film is not an easy watch, I questioned whether to include this but for me, it had a lot of strengths. I was thoroughly engaged by the developing relationship of leads Clare & Billy throughout. Additionally, the Tasmanian location and Radek Ladczuk’s brilliant cinematography add to the atmosphere. As previously mentioned, this film is not for the faint-hearted.
You can watch The Nightingale on Netflix
Bone Tomahawk (2015) Rating 8/10
Another film to file under not for the faint-hearted is S. Craig Zahler’s slow-burn Western with a horror spin. Having watched Zahler’s Brawl in Cell Block 99 I am fully aware his methodically paced films can take a sudden turn with devastating violence and Bone Tomahawk is no different. Richard Jenkins knocks it out the park as hilarious backup deputy Chicory.
You can watch Bone Tomahawk on All4.
Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972) Rating 8/10
Having watched Embrace of the Serpent last month I noted Aguirre…was referenced on numerous occasions as inspiration. Accompanied by a hypnotic score from Popol Vuh, the film follows a 16th-century expedition through the Peruvian jungle in search of the legendary city of gold, El Dorado. Hostilities are not only met out-with the camp but there is also a power struggle within. I have no idea how Werner Herzog and his crew managed to shoot this unique Amazonian exploration.
You can watch Aguirre, the Wrath of God on the BFI Player on Prime Video Channels.
Keith Haring: Street Art Boy (2020) Rating 8/10
An intimate and informative documentary of one of the most iconic artists of the 80s. Haring sprung to fame in New York in his 20s and subsequently went on to raise awareness in numerous social issues that reached a global audience.
You can watch Keith Haring: Street Art Boy on BBC iPlayer.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood (2019) Rating 7.5/10
Growing up in Scotland I thought this film would go over my head having no affiliation or childhood nostalgia of Mister Rogers. No surprises that Tom Hanks brings his usual strong performance and I found the approach to the storytelling interesting. The overall film experience for me was meditative and I liked the creative scene transitions.
You can rent A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood on Prime Video, YouTube and Google Play.
The Birdcage (1996) Rating 7.5/10
What would have been Robin Williams 69th Birthday on July 21st led me to watch a 90s film of his that I had not heard of. He plays a gay drag club owner whose son has just announced his engagement to the daughter of a right-wing Senator. Nathan Lane steals the show as William’s eccentric partner in this witty film.
You can rent The Birdcage on Prime Video, YouTube and Google Play.
Dead & Buried (1981) Rating 7.5/10
An entertaining 80s seaside town horror mystery that keeps you guessing right up until its excellent conclusion. I will never look at Jack Albertson (Grandpa Joe) the same again.
You can rent Dead & Buried on Prime Video, YouTube and Google Play.
Session 9 (2001) Rating 7.5/10
Peter Mullan, as always, is on top form in this solid indie psychological horror. The film documents an asbestos removal team working a job at an abandoned mental hospital. There’s a handful of unnerving moments that will stick with me for some time.
You can watch Session 9 on Netflix.
You can find all my film ratings on my Letterboxd account.
See you next month with my August recommendations!
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